Multi-colored textile products with sharp color tone contrasts

ABSTRACT

Multi-colored yarns prepared from a blend of 95-50 percent by weight of a colored, round cross-section fiber and 5-50 percent by weight of a different colored, non-round cross-section fiber, wherein the relative sizes of the different fibers fall within definitely prescribed limits.

United States Patent [1 1 Sekiguchi et a1.

[451 Apr. 9, 1974 I MULTI-COLORED TEXTILE PRODUCTS WITH SHARP COLOR TONE CONTRASTS [75] Inventors: Hideto Sekiguchi; Tomohide Matsumoto; Masanobu Hoten; Hideo Kawasaki, all of Okayama, Japan [73] Assignee: Japan Exlan Company Limited,

Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: May 26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 257,417

Related US. Application Data {63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 857,744, Sept. 15,

1969, abandoned.-

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 13, 1968 Japan 43-63340 [52] US. Cl 57/140 BY, 8/21 R, 8/21 A, 57/140 J, 57/153, 57/164, 161/175, 161/177 [58] Field of Search. D02g/3/04; 57/140 BY, 140 J,

57/153, 164; 8/21 A, 21 R, 21 D, 15; 28/75, 76; 161/169, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,033,240 5/1962 Bottorf 57/140 J 3,194,002 7/1965 Raynolds et al 57/140 J 3,164,949 1/1965 Pitzl 57/140 J 3,389,549 6/1968 David 8/15 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,017,155 1/1966 Great Britain 8/21 B OTHER PUBLICATIONS Dupont Technical Information; Bulletin OR-161; Orlon Acrylic Fiber; May, 1968.

Schmidlin; Preparation and Dyeing of Synthetic Fibers; page 176; Published-Chapman & Hall-1963.

Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [5 7] ABSTRACT 11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures MULTl-COLORED TEXTILE PRODUCTS WITH SHARP COLOR TONE CONTRASTS This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 857,744, filed Sept. 15, 1969, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to dyeing articles with multi-colored contrasts. More particularly, the invention relates to a multi-colored product featuring a sharp color tone contrast and a novel color effect, said product being made up of a synthetic fiber with a specifically non-round cross-section (hereinafter referred to briefly as a non-round section fiber) and a synthetic fiber with a round cross-section (hereinafter referred to briefly as a round section fiber).

Prior to the present invention various methods have been proposed for the production of multi-colored products. For instance, a method is known wherein two fibers previously dyed different color tones are blended and spun into a multi-colored yarn and the yarn so produced is woven, knitted or otherwise organized into a multi-colored product. Another known method comprises the steps of blending a dyed fiber and an undyed fiber, spinning the resulting blend intoa yarn, and then subsequently dyeing the undyed fiber, prior to or subsequent to fabrication, with a dye of color different from that employed with the previously dyed fiber, thus producing a multi-colored product.

In still another method, fibers with different dyeing properties are blended, the blend is spun into a yarn, and the yarn, or fabricated article obtained therefrom,

is subsequently dyed taking advantage of the different dyeing properties to yield a multi-colored product.

None of the foregoing methods, however, produces a multi-colored product endowed with a brilliant color effect and a sufficiently sharp color tone contrast. Thus, the multi-colored products heretofore available have been unsatisfactory from the standpoint of evaluation in the market.

The attractiveness of a multi-colored product is at tributable, above all else, to the contrasting effect which two or more different shades have on the human eye, and the blurred contrast effects of the conventional multi-colored products are responsible for their dirty appearance. 1

In view of the above situation, we investigated the factors which might contribute to an improved color contrast in a multi-colored product. The study has led to the finding that, to attain a sharp color contrast, it is beneficial to use one or more motif colors with highpitched tonal accents and a background color which is to occupy more than a half of the total surface area of the textile product, and that to produce a multi-colored product featuring brilliant shades in sharp contrast, it is useful to employ a round section fiber as the background-color fiber and a non-round section fiber as the motif-color fiber.

The present invention is the culmination of the above findings.

It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a multi-colored product with a sharp color tone contrast. A more specific object of the invention is to produce a highly marketable multi-colored product featuring a novel color effect and sharp color tone contrast through the employment of a spun yarn prepared by the blending of a non-round section fiber and a round section fiber.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multi-colored yarns of a sharp color tone contrast and a novel color effect, said yarn comprising a blend of from about to 50 percent by weight (based on said blend) of a first fiber of one color, said first fiber having a round cross-section, and, correspondingly, from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight (based on said blend) of a second fiber of a color different from that of said first fiber, said second fiber having a non-round cross-section which is such that the ratio of the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle to the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle lies within the range of 1.2:1 to 5:1 and the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle is larger by from 3 p. to 50 y. than that of the cross-section of said round-section fiber.

The term the minimum circumscribed circle of the cross-section of said non-round section fiber means the smallest or minimum circle which circumscribes the contour of the non-round cross-section at, at least, two points and contains the entire area of the non-round cross-section the term the maximum inscribed circle" mentioned above means the largest or maximum circle which inscribes the contour of said non-round crosssection at, at least, two points and is contained within said contour of the non-round cross-section.

1n the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, respectively, illustrate various non-round crosssections of synthetic fibers. In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and F1, F29 F31 F41 fir 6 71 F81 F91 F10! F and F are, respectively, contours of said nonround cross-sections; a,, a a a,, a a,,, a a a a a and a, are, respectively, minimum circumscribed circles of said non-round cross-section; and b,, b b,, b,, b b b b,,, b,,, b,,,, b and b are, respectively, maximum inscribed circles of said non-round crosssection. 1

The round fibers employed in the process of this invention have substantially round in their cross-sections and are produced according to wetor melt-spinning under ordinary spinning conditions, using a spinnerette having round spinning orifices.

Further, the term non-round cross-section means the cross-sectional shape consisting of at least two integrally joined lobes or angles such as elliptical shape, rectangular shape, trilobal shape, triangular shape, T shape, Y-shape, star shape, dog-bone shape, heart shape or beam shape, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 12. Such shapes can be obtained as desired, and are known in the art, for example as shown. in US. Pat. Nos. 2,939,201, 2,939,202, 3,097,416, 2,637,893 and 3,194,002, British Pat. No. 1,090,515, Japanese Pat. Nos. 272,907, 489,482, Japanese Pat. Pub]. No. 14424/1962, as well as in Skinners Silk and Rayon Record, July 1957, pages 728-731.

The multi-colored article prepared by organizing such a specifically non-round section fiber and a round section fiber into an assembly according to the present invention distinguishes itself clearly from the conventional multi-colored articles in color effects. In other words, the former article has a sharper color contrast and a novel color effect which makes it a product of higher market evaluation.

If, the present invention, the non-round section fiber is used in a proportion below 5 percent, this motif-color fiber will not be easily discernible and no desired color tone contrast will be obtained. Conversely, if the proportion of the non-round section fiber is higher than 50 percent, it will be difficult to attain a sufficient color balance and the objects of the invention will not be accomplished.

Furthermore, when the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the cross-section of the non-round section fiber is less than 3 p. larger than that of the cross-section of the round section fiber, the novel color effects and the sharp color contrast are not obtained, and when said diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle is more than 50 larger than that of said crosssection of the round section fiber, the spinnability of the yarn is adversely affected.

Accordingly, in the present invention, it is necessary that said diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle is larger by from 3 p. to 50p. than that of said crosssection of the round section fiber.

The fiber which possesses a non-round cross-section as defined in this specification is an essential element only with which the objects and effects of the present invention can be realized. Thus, a fiber which has such a specifically non-round section functions as a fiber element responsible for the accent or motif color which presents a sharp contrast with the background color of the round section fiber. The multi-colored article thus prepared features a novel color effect, besides the sharper contrast, so that its marketability is further enhanced. Incidentally, it is logical to contemplate the possibility of a multi-colored article made up of a yarn consisting of blending round section fibers as well as a multi-colored article made up of a yarn consisting of blending non-round section fibers. However, in either combination, both the color effect and tone contrast attainable will not be as satisfactory, for, then, the component fibers will be either both weak or both strong in color effects.

The novel color effects obtainable by the present invention may be further enhanced when the non-round section fiber has a lower shrinkage and a lower crimp number than the round section fiber. Similarly, improved results are obtained when the round section fiber'is a composite fiber and the non-round section fiber is a mono-component fiber of relatively low crimp number. Especially beneficial results are obtained when the round section fiber is an acrylic fiber which has high shrinkage and was drafted by means of a Turbo-Stapler (usually at a draft of 1.15 to 1.50), the nonround section fiber has low shrinkage, and the yarn is subsequently dyed in two colors. In such, instance at the elevated dyeing temperature the round section fiber undergoes greater shrinkage than the non-round section fiber with the result that the former fiber tends to collect in the core of the yarn and the latter fiber tends to emerge to the yarn surface.

The novel color effects of the yarn of the present invention are not limited to two-color dyeings but are also pronounced in products constructed of multicolored yarns of the present invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, two or more non-round section fibers conforming to the conditions set forth in this specification are employed, and two or more round section fibers conforming to the conditions set forth in this specification are employed. Thus, even where two or more different non-round section fibers, or round section fibers are employed, the

objects and effects of the present invention can still be accomplished, insofar as the proportions of such fibers lie within the limits hereinbefore mentioned for the non-round section fiber.

The present invention has as its object the attainment of a multi-colored article made up of a yarn consisting of blending round-section and non-round section fibers and, more particularly, the attainment of an improved, more delicate color contrast and more attractive color effect which will add significantly to the market evaluation of the article. In comparison, a yarn madeup of a non-round section fiber yarn and a round section fiber yarn, which has been prepared by mix-twisting, for instance, produces a rather crude contrast and represents a more intermigling of dissimilar colors. Thus, such yarn is not comparable to the yarn of this invention which is capable of producing a sharper, more delicate color contrast. Even if the non-round section fiber to be used in the above application satisfies the conditions hereinbefore set forth, the yarn prepared in the above manner will by far be inferior to the yarn of this invention in the tone contrast and in the marketability of the final article.

The fibers that may be employed in spinning yarns of the present invention generally include synthetic fibers made from high polymers such as polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, etc. Particularly superior yarns, featuring sharp color contrasts, are obtained when fibers of polyacrylonitrile or its copolymers, which are excellent in dyeability, are employed.

In other words, when a synthetic fiber composed of polyacrylonitrile or acrylonitrile copolymer (acrylic fiber) is employed, the superior dyeability of this particular fiber contributes significantly to the effect of the present invention. Thus, the effect of the invention is combined with the inherent characteristic of the fiber to produce a still improved color effect, thereby imparting a superior tone contrast to the finished article and adding considerably to its marketability.

In selecting the round-section and non-round-section fibers, it is not necessary to employ fibers of the same type, but rather various combinations of dissimilar fibers can be utilized. For example, said round-section fiber may be selected from among various acrylic fibers dyeable with basic dyestuffs, said acrylic fibers being composed of acrylonitrile copolymers containing acidic unsaturated comonomers such as allylsulfonic acid, methallyl sulfonic acid, styrenesulfonic acid, itaconic acid, etc., or any of their salts, while said nonround section fiber may be selected from among acrylic fibers dyeable with acid dyestuffs, said acrylic fibers being composed of acrylonitrile copolymers containing such basic unsaturated comonomers as vinyl pyridine, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl imidazole and the like. Alternatively said round section fiber may be an acrylic fiber and said non-round section fiber a polyester fiber or a polyamide fiber.

Particularly where said round section and non-round section fibers are thus different from each other in dyeability, the spun yarn made thereof or any textile article fabricated of the spun yarn by weaving or knitting, for instance, can be dyed a multi-color effect in a one-bath process. The above practice, therefore, is economically advantageous.

Once various types of the fiber have been blended and spun in accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated to effect coloration thereof according to usual techniques. Thus, the two types of fiber may be dyed prior to spinning, one type of fiber may be dyed prior to spinning and the other type or types dyed subsequent to spinning or fabrication, or fibers of dif ferent dyeing properties may be employed in undyed state in spinning, with dyeing being effected after spinning or fabrication.

The abbreviation C.l, as used herein stands for Color index, 2nd Edition, i956 and Supplement, 1963, published by The Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, England and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Coiourists, Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

The following examples are intended to further illustrate the present invention and should be no means be construed as being limitative of the scope of theinvention. in the examples, all percents and parts are by weight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 Staples of non-round section acrylic fibers which have been produced according to the process referred to in the Japanese Pat. No. 489,482 (Japanese Pat. Pub]. No. 170] l/l966), from an acrylonitrile copolymer containing 88 percent acrylonitrile, 7 percent methyl acrylate, and 5 percent Z-methyl-S- vinylpyridine and having different elliptical crosssectional shapes and mono-filament sizes set forth in Table l are respectively dyed under the following conditions.

Dyeing bath composition:

5 percent o.w.f. C.l. Acid Black 31 (CI. 17580) Adjusted to pH 3 with sulfuric acid Liquor/Fiber ratio: 50/] The temperature of the dyeing bath increased at the rate of 0.5" C./min. from 70 to 100 C. where it is maintaind for 45 minutes.

o.w.f. on weight of dry fiber.

Then, l parts each of the resulting black fibers are respectively blended with 9.0 parts of an acrylic fiber of round cross-section (hereinafter referred to as fiber A) which has been produced according to the process of US. Pat. No. 2,558,730, using a spinnerette having round spinning orifices, from an acrylonitrile copolymer composed of 9] percent acrylonitrile, 8.8 percent methyl acrylate and 0.2 percent sodium allyl s'ulfonate made into a knitted fabric and the fiber A contained in this knitted fabric is dyed under the following conditions.

Dyeing bath compositions:

0.8 percent o.w.f. C.I. 48035 1 percent o.w.f. Levegal PAN retarder, which is a liquid cationic quaternary ammonium compound used as a leveling agent for acrylic fibers; Detergents and Emulsifiers, J.W. McCutcheon, 1966, p. I21. 2 percent o.w.f. acetic acid 10 percent o.w.f. sodium nitrate Liquor/Fiber ratio: SO/I The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of 0.5 (L/min. from to C. and maintained at 100 C. for 45 min. The knitted fabrics made in the above manner invariably feature yellowish orange-black patterns, but show considerable variations in color effect and tone contrast and, therefore, in marketability. Thus, exquisitely sharp color contrasts are noted in the knitted fabrics designated No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 which contain nonround section fibers satisfying the conditions hereinbefore set forth. Those fabrics are accordingly highly marketable, unique multi-colored articles, each pos sessing an outstanding color tone contrast which is characterized by the black fiber standing out prominently against the background of the brilliant yellowish orange color of round'section fiber used in a larger proportion. Furthermore, because of the shrinkage of the stretched fiber incorporated in the fabrics, there is produced a bulk in each of the fabrics, with the non-round section fiber floating on the surface of the fabric and further enhancing the tone contrast and market value of the knitted fabric.

in comparison, with regard to the knitted fabric designated No. i which is a multi-colored article representing a mere combination of round-section fibers, as well as the knitted fabric designated No. 2 which contains a non-round section fiber, the diameter of whose minimum circumscribed circle differs from that of the cross-section of the round section fiber by less than 3 microns, the black fiber in either case does not stand out prominently but gives rather a blurred impression, thus causing the yellow-orange fiber to appear somewhat smeared. Thus, those articles have less prominent color contrasts.

TABLE 1 Number 1 2 3 4 5 N on-round section fiber:

Monofiiamentfincness(dcnlers)......... ii 3 3 ii 3 Diameter at minimum circumscriinni circle (microns iii. 2 41,4 23. 5 24. s 27. 6 Diameter oi maximum inscribed circle (micr0mi).... l9.2 iii-ti l2. ii iii-(i lit-5 Diameter of minimum circumscribed circle/Diameter of maximum inscrilmii circle. Hi i. (YT/i 1.88/1 2. (iii/i l v'c/i Round section fiber:

Monotilament fineness (dunlcrs) 3 8 3 3 3 Diameter of cross section (microns) 19. 2 19. 2 19. 2 l9. 2 19. 2 (Diameter of minimum circumscribed eirclc)-(Diamcter a! cross-section) 0 2. 2 4. 3 5. 6 8. 4 Color tone contrast of knits 1 Poor. Good. Very good. i Excellent.

and which has a monofilament size of 3 deniers and a EXAMPLE 2 cross-section diameter of 19.2 microns (of the latter fiber 40 percent is a stretched fiber which has been hotstretched to 1.31 times its original length by means of a turbo-stapler so that it has an after-boiling shrinkage of 22 percent and a cross-section diameter of l9.2 microns) and spun into doubleply yarns having a yarn count of 32. The resulting yarns are, respectively,

3 percent o.w.f. Levenol R retarder (higher alkyl trimethyl ammonium chloride used as a leveling agent for acrylic fibers) 2 percent o.w.f. glacial acetic acid 10 percent o.w.f. Na SO.

Liquor ratio: 1/20 The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of C. per minute from 70 C. to 100 C. and maintained at 100 C. for 30 minutes.

Second step:

Staples of an acrylic fiber (hereinafter called fiber B), which has been produced according to the process of Japanese Pat. No. 489,482, using a spinnerette having rectangular spinning orifices, from the same acrylonitrile copolymer as the material of fiber A and has an elliptical cross-section the diameter of whose minimum circumscribed circle is 24.6 microns, with the ratio of said diameter to the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle of said cross-section being 1.8 to l, are dyed under the following conditions.

Dyeing bath composition:

3 percent o.w.f. C.l. Basic Red 18 (C.l. 11085) 2 percent o.w.f. glacial acetic acid percent o.w.f. Na SO liquor ratio: 1/20 The dyeing bath temperatures increased at the rate of 1 C. per minute from 70 to 100 C. and maintained at 100 C for 60 minutes.

Third step:

Ten parts of the red-colored non-round section fiber prepared in the above second step are blended with 90 parts of the yellow round section fiber obtaining in the above first step and spun into a double-ply yarn having a yarn count of 32.

The spun yarn manufactured in the foregoing manner features a sharp tone-on-tone contrast, where the red shade literally stands out prominently on the yarn surface against the yellow background. Stated differently, the yarn shows a very pronounced color tone contrast between red and yellow shapes, and is of greater market evaluation as compared to the conventional multicolored yam where red merely intermingles with yellow so thoroughly that it almost appears to consist in a yellow-orange fiber.

On the other hand, where the proportion of the red non-round fiber is high than that of the yellow round section fiber, e.g., if 90 parts of said red non-round section fiber are mix-spun with 10 parts of said yellow round section fiber into a 32-count double twisted yarn in the same manner as above, the red shade will be too strong to allow the yellow shade to be distinctly prominent and, accordingly, the yarn will not be as saleable as might be desired.

EXAMPLE 3 Staples of an acrylic fiber which has been produced according to the process of U.S. Pat. No. 2,445,042 from an acrylonitrile copolymer containing 4 percent methyl acrylate, which has a non-round cross-section comparable to a silkworm cocoon (the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle 30.3 microns, and the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle/the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle 2.2/l) are dyed in a manner similar to the second step of Example 2.

On the other hand, the tow and staple of an acrylic fiber which has been produced according to the process of US. Pat. No. 2,558,730, using a spinnerette having round spinning orifices, from an acrylonitrile copolymer containing percent acrylonitrile and 10 percent methyl acrylate (monofilament size: 3 deniers; a round section fiber, the diameter of which is 19.2 microns), are dyed under the following conditions.

Dyeing bath composition:

0.1 percent o.w.f. C.l. Basic Blue 3 (C.l. 51005) 0.1 percent o.w.f. C.l. Basic Yellow 12 I 1 percent o.w.f. Levegal PAN 2 percent o.w.f. glacial acetic acid 10 percent o.w.f. Na SQ,

Liquor ratio: l/2O The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of 05 C. per minute from 70 to C. and maintained at 100 C. for 45 minutes.

Five parts of the staple of said non-round section fiber which has dyed red as above is blended with 45 parts of the fiber prepared by stretching the tow of said acrylic fiber dyed green as above to 1.31 times its original length by means of a turbo-stapler and with 50 parts of the staple of said acrylic fiber which has been dyed green, and spun into a double-ply yarn having a yarn count of 28. The resulting spun yarn is steamed at 100 C. for 15 minutes to prepare a bulky yarn with a sharp color contrast.

The spun yarn prepared in the above manner is a highly marketable product featuring an unusually sharp tone contrast which has been created by the prominence of the reb fiber over the green background fibers. In comparison, the spun yarn prepared by mixspinning the aforementioned red-colored non-round section fiber with a green-dyed non-round section fiber in stead of the said green-dyed acrylic fiber lacks a prominent color contrast which is associated with a combination of round-section and non-round section fibers.

EXAMPLE 4 25 parts of a non-round section fiber which has been produced according to the process of U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,002, from an acrylonitrile copolymer containing 89 percent acrylonitrile, 8 percent methyl acrylate, and 3 percent N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate as a basic-comonomer, the cross'section of which is Y- shaped (the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle 28.2 microne, and the ratio of said diameter to the diameter, of the maximum inscribed circle 2.5 to l are blended with 45 parts ofa tow of fiber A (Example l) which has been stretched to 1.31 times it initial length by means of a turbo-stapler and 30 parts of the same fiber A which has not been stretched, and spun into a yarn. The resulting spun yarn is then dyed in a one bath process.

Dyeing bath composition:

2 percent o.w.f. for the round section fibers of CI.

Basic Blue 3 2 percent o.w.f. for the non-round section fiber of C1. Acid Red 161 (C.l. 18035) 2 percent o.w.f. of glacial acetic acid 1 g./1. of Noigen ET (polyoxyethylene alkyl ether as a nonionic surface active agent) Liquor ratio: l/50 The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of 1 C. per minute from 70 to 100 C. and maintained at 100 C. for 60 minutes.

The resulting multi-colored yarn shows an exquisitely attractive color contrast, which is obviously attributable, partly to the incorporation of the specifically non roundsection fiber and, partly, to the shrinkage of the aforementioned stretched fiber on application of heat in the dyeing process which causes the red non-round section fiber to stand out prominently on the yarn surface.

EXAMPLE The three different acrylic fibers shown in Table 2 are blended and spun into a mottled black-and-white yarn of a double-ply yarn having a yarn count of 22. This spun yarn is then dyed in a one-bath process.

Dyeing bath compositions:

0.3 percent o.w.f. for fiber I of Cl. Basic Yellow 12 2 percent o.w.f. for fiber ll of CI. Acid Red 161 2 percent o.w.f. of glacial acetic acid lg./1. of Noigen ET 170 as a dispersing agent 1 percent o.w.f. of Levegal PAN Liquor ratio: l/50 The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of 1 C. per minute from 70 to 100 C. and maintained at 100 C. for 60 minutes. In this process, the yellow cationic dyestuff is adsorbed only on fiber 1, while the red acid dyestuff is deposited selectively on fiber ll so that, combined with the black shade of fiber ill which has been dyed prior Dyed before spinning Not dyed Not dyed"... Black-dyed. Blending ratio, percent. 60

Stretched by turbo- Two-thirds of Not stretched Not stretched.

the above 60% of the stretched stapler.

Produced according to the process of U.S. l'nt. 2.558.730. using n spinnerette having round spinning criiicc 1 Produced according to the process of 1 .3. int. 2.5.,7311, using spinneictto hnving rcotnngulnr spinning oriticvs.

'lho iibcr contains 0.6% of cnrbon blncli.

ln the above Table 2, AN, MA, AS, VAc and DAM denote acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, allylsulfonic acid, vinyl acetate and N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, respectively.

EXAMPLES 6-20 Following the procedure of Example 2 in every detail except for the proportions and diameter of fibers A and B, a number of yarns are prepared. in each instance, yarns of good spinnability and excellent color contrast are produced. Table 3 below indicates the fiber proporiqn nd dia t TABLE 3. YARNS OF GOOD SPINNABILITY AND COLOR CONTRAST Fiber A Fiber B Blend- Blending ratio, DMrn/ ing ratio, Example D, percent DMIN-D,p. B DMAX, n MAX p r n 16. 0 60 5. 4 21. 4 13. 6 1. 57 17. 8 80 3. 6 21.4 13. 6 1. 57 2O 21. 2 3. 6 24. 8 12. 0 2. 06 50 19. 2 5. 6 24. 8 12. 0 2. 06 25 19. 2 70 10. 1 30. 3 13. 8 2. 2 30 13. 9 9O 18. 7 32. 6 18. 1 1. B 10 21. 2 6. 4 27. 6 15. 5 1. 78 2O 21. 2 50 3. 4 24. 6 13. 7 1. 8 50 25. 3 25. 5 50. 8 17. 5 2. 9 10 19.2 80 9.0 28.2 11.3 2. 5 20 13. 9 70 7. 5 21. 4 13. 6 1. 57 30 13. 9 36. 9 50. 8 17. 5 2. 9 5 19. 2 85 13. 4 32. 6 18. 1 1. 8 15 22. 6 65 5. 0 27. 6 15. 5 1. 78 35 25. 3 50 5. 0 30. 3 13. 8 2. 2 5O Diameter of the cross-section of round section fiber A. 2 Diameter of tho minimum circumscribed circle of the cross-section of non-round section fiber 13.

am, B

to spinning, the yarn assumes a three-color pattern of 50 yellow, red and black. The knitted fabric made of this yarn features a three-dimensional multi-color effect, where the red shade stands out prominently over the yellow background, with th black shade being superimposed thereon.

(dcniers).

3 Diameter of the maximum inscribed circle of the cross-section of non-round section EXAMPLE 21 The two different fibers shown in Table 4 and 5 are blended and spun into a yarn of a double-ply yarn having a yarn count of 22. These spun yarns are then dyed in a one-bath process.

Dyeing bath condition:

0.3 percent o.w.f. for fiber IV of Cl. Basic Yellow 2 percent o.w.f. glacial acetic acid l g-/ l of Noigen ET 170 as a dispersing agent 1 percent o.w.f. of Levegal PAN Liquor ratio: l/50 The dyeing bath temperature increased at the rate of 1 C. per minute from 70 to C. and maintained at 100 C. for 60 minutes.

in this process, the yellow cationic dyestuff is adsorbed only on fiber lV so that, combined with the red or blue shade of fiber V or Vl which has been dyed prior to spinning, the yarn assumes a two-color pattern of yellow and, red or blue. The knitted fabric made of this yarn features a multi-color effect, where the red or blue shade stands out prominently over the yellow background.

i TABLE 4 Fiber IV V 1 Com osition oi polymer Fiber I employed Polyethylene ma ing up the fiber in Example 5. terephthalate. (percent). Cross-sectional shape Circular Triangular. Diameter of minimum cir- 19.2 (Circular 24.5.

cumscribed circle (microns). section). Monoiilament size (deniers) 3 5. Diameter of minimum circum- 1/1 1.5/1

scribed circle/Diameter of maximum inscribed circle. Dyed lwiore spinning... Blending rntio (percent) Stretched by lurho-stnplnn.

Red-dyed 3i). Not stretched.

'lwo-thirdst o nbovo of tho ilber is stretched to 1.31 times its initial length.

l Produced according to the process of U.S. Pat. 2,039,202. 2 Dyed with 3% O.W.F. O.I. Disperse Red 1 (OJ. 11110) at 120 C. for 60 minutes.

TABLE" 5 Fiber Composition of polymer mak- Fiber Iemployed Polyhexamethyll Produced according to the process 01 U.S. Pat. 2,939,201. 60 Dyed with 2% o.w.i. C.I. Acid Blue 194 (0.1. 17941) at 100 C. for

in nu cs.

What we claim is:

Multi-colored yarn comprising a blend of (a) from about 95 to 50 percent by weight of the blend of at least one first colored fiber having a round cross'section and (b) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of the blend of at least one colored second fiber having a color different from that of the first fiber and having a sustantially non-round cross-sectional shape consisting of at least two integrally joined lobes or angles, wherein the ratio 'of the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the second fiber to the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle of the second fiber is within the range of i.2:l to 5:1 and the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the second fiber is from Sp to 5;]. larger than that of the cross-section of the first fiber.

2. A blend of (a) from about to 50 percent by weight of at least one first fiber having a round crosssection and (b) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of at least one second fiber having a substantially non-round cross-sectional shape consisting of at least two integrally joined lobes or angles, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the second fiber to the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle of the second fiber is within the range of 1.2:1 to 5:l and the diameter of the minimum circumscribedcircle of the second fiber is from 3 to 50p. larger than that of the cross-section of the first fiber.

3. The blend of claim 2 wherein the first fiber is dyed.

4. The blend of claim 2 wherein the second fiber is dyed.

5. Multi-colored articles consisting of multi-colored yarns of claim 1.

6. Multi-colored yarns of'elaim 1 wherein at least one acrylic fiber dyed with an acid dycstuff.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 802 177 Dated April 9 1974 InventoflsI-I ideto SEKIGUCHI, Tomohide MATSUMOTO, Masanobu HOTEN and Hideo KAWASAKI I I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent I and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 12, line 11, change "Sp" to --50u Signed) and sealed this 1st day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of Patents 93' (10-69) USCOMM-DC scan-Pea U.$ GDVERNHE NY PRINTING OFFICE I I9! 0-355-33, 

2. A blend of (a) from about 95 to 50 percent by weight of at least one first fiber having a round cross-section and (b) from about 5 percent to about 50 percent by weight of at least one second fiber having a substantially non-round cross-sectional shape consisting of at least two integrally joined lobes or angles, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the second fiber to the diameter of the maximum inscribed circle of the second fiber is within the range of 1.2:1 to 5:1 and the diameter of the minimum circumscribed circle of the second fiber is from 3 Mu to 50 Mu larger than that of the cross-section of the first fiber.
 3. The blend of claim 2 wherein the first fiber is dyed.
 4. The blend of claim 2 wherein the second fiber is dyed.
 5. Multi-colored articles consisting of multi-colored yarns of claim
 1. 6. Multi-colored yarns of claim 1 wherein at least one of (a) and (b) is an acrylic fiber.
 7. Multi-colored yarns of claim 6 wherein said acrylic fiber is a composite fiber.
 8. Multi-colored yarns of claim 6 wherein (b) is an acrylic fiber having higher shrinkage than (a).
 9. Multi-colored yarns of claim 1 wherein both (a) and (b) are acrylic fibers.
 10. Multi-colored yarns of claim 9 wherein the dyeing property of (a) is different from that of (b).
 11. Multi-colored yarns of claim 10 wherein (a) is an acrylic fiber dyed with a basic dyestuff and (b) is an acrylic fiber dyed with an acid dyestuff. 